Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Its been raining and is super chilly in Kentucky and I think our last few warm days are far gone. My Monday and Tuesday have been fairly uneventful and I am already on the countdown for the weekend! As promised I have some wedding news to share. I have received several emails asking about the status of wedding plans and despite the lack of posting all of the major elements were taken care within the first 4-6 weeks of saying "Yes!"

A few weeks ago the FIN and I traveled to Nashville to take our engagement pictures. We were so lucky to have a wonderful photographer who made us feel comfortable (photo slideshow is another post for another day... ). The pictures turned out great and we were both more than pleased. Before even taking the engagement pictures I knew how I wanted the Save the Date cards to look. I am a total sap for all things related to stationary and I knew that I had a few special thoughts that I wanted to incorporate into our Save the Date cards.

When I first began blogging I came across a great blog that encompassed personal design and a touch of whimsy. I immediately began perusing her portfolio looking for stationary ideas or any paper product that I could monogram (I LOVE LOVE LOVE monograms). Granted, I haven't always dreamed of wedding details but once I saw the online store I knew that I wanted to work with Mary Ellen over at Mostly MEllen. When it came time to put my my thoughts on paper I provided the photo that I wanted and a few places that I wanted to include and she did the rest. I was nervous to see the final product (as that is my nature) but once I saw them I couldn't have been happier. I couldn't have imagined them turning out any better, they were better than expected!!! When I opened up the box with the cards I felt like it was Christmas, and like I was 6 years old all over again.

After checking and re-checking all of the envelope addresses against the excel list that was complied by Mommy TX and myself I felt confident enough to mail them, (I am writing about this only because the cards have been mailed and most people have already received their card). The FIN and I spent last Monday night stamping (Me), and licking (The FIN was volunteered to seal them but he didn't seem to mind, which is good because envelope glue makes me gag...) all of the invite cards.

Even Hagan wanted to help with the cards...

When we went to mail them I didn't want to let them go. I had convinced myself that they were all going to be lost somewhere in unknown post-office oblivion, or that I hadn't put enough postage on the envelopes (which I triple checked with Mary Ellen and the Lexington Post Office). I was relieved to find out that people had received the cards in both KY and TX. I imagine it compares to sending your child to school for the first time, you know that everything will work out but until you hear others say it you aren't sure. (I know that is a bit dramatic but I feel as if these cards have been my children for the past week.)

Waiting to be mailed... Mary Ellen did a wonderful job on the envelopes too!

He was a trooper, but I think that he was glad that they were finished!

I found my dear friend Emmy's invitation and thought that a blog picture was needed!

Going, Going, Gone...

Mary Ellen also featured our design on her blog. Check out the post here!

I have also included a shot of the front and back of the card below. I LOVE LOVE LOVE them!

Front!

Back!

On the back of the card was another photo from our engagement shoot along with our personalized wedding website. The FIN built the website and I couldn't be more excited with how it turned out. I love the picture choices and our personal stories that we were able to incorporate. I couldn't be more thankful for his help during this slightly busy time of our lives.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I have been at home for the last several days (aka the land of no 3G service and dial-up Internet) and I have been slacking on the blogging yet again. I can say that I have been super busy these past few weeks with wedding things. I will be sure to dedicate a full post to wedding related garb in the next few days, I promise.

It was so nice to see family and friends this week and just relax. The FIN was back in TX with his family celebrating and I am so ready for him to come back to KY. When we spoke last night on the phone I commented that this was the last Thanksgiving as MKH, and that next year we will be spending Thanksgiving together away from one of our families. I know thats too much emotion for a blog post so I will stop there because my eyes may get misty:( Until then I have a few pictures from Thanksgiving for your viewing pleasure!

Cousin Klay and MKH...

Being silly...

I felt like I ate until I was about to explode and even thinking about turkey makes my stomach hurt. I did however accomplish a major milestone as I used my first real piece of kitchen equipment over break. It is no secret that I am somewhat challenged when it comes to cooking/navigating around the kitchen but on Thursday it was decided that it is time for me to learn. A few months ago my friend/neighbor Lauren had called and asked me if I had a can opener that she could borrow. I am sure I looked like a deer in the headlights because I knew what a can opener was and what it did but I had no idea if I had one in one of my drawers or what one looked like. Needless to say I didn't have one that she could borrow and in repeating this story to family members they decided that they needed to stage an intervention. So on Thursday it was all business as I was tasked to open several cans with said can opener, and the picture below pretty much sums up my experience...

One piece can opener in two pieces.... very dramatic

Please excuse the DG pajamas and nasty hair...

Granted, it wasn't as bad as the picture above makes it seem. At least I know that when I am married Chad won't starve because we can eat as much canned food as possible. I think that is a comforting thought to his parents and my family both. Who knows on Christmas I may try to boil water...

I am dreading going back to work on Monday as my 5 1/2 day weekend has spoiled me. I am counting the days until my weeklong Christmas Holiday. Only 15 working days until I'm in Christmas bliss (aka my week away from work!!) and I couldn't be more excited. In preparation for the upcoming festive season I purchased a few Christmas ornaments that have special meaning to the FIN and I. After we marry I am not sure how I will display them, but I am thinking that an apothecary jar may do the trick.

Close but not quite, but you get the idea....

I tried to photograph the ornaments as best I could but they are so shiny that it made it difficult.

"We wish you a Kentucky Christmas"

"And a Wildcat New Year!"

" I Love UK Gameday!"

"GO CATS!"

"Just Married Wildcats!"

I think that the "Just Married" ornament is my favorite and I can't wait to display it during Christmas 2011. My only wish was that the ornaments themselves were date-stamped so I could remember which year that they were purchased and displayed. I guess that having the boxes marked is the best I can do. The weather has been super chilly in the Bluegrass and it finally feels like Christmas is coming. I hope everyone has had a wonderful week full of family, food, and fellowship!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

With my current work situation not looking too promising in terms of an expanding workload I had ample time today to re-read one of my favorite books, Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews. Yes, I read the whole book today in one sitting (its barely 200 pages) while atop of my throne (the uncomfortable black swivel chair).

At bookstores near YOU....

I have read it a few times and every time I do I always wonder what it would be like to decorate for holidays with the color blue. Granted, the whole idea of Christmas decorating is a bit intimidating to me because it can very easily consume you and your home. There are so many things that catch my eye but I feel like it never ends, there are so many different themes, color schemes, and knick knacks that I would love to collect but in reality it would most likely be a jumbled mess. Since I have an exobortant amount of down time from the hours of 700am-330pm I find myself thinking about seasonal room displays and what I would someday like to decorate my home with. Blue Christmas got me to thinking about Kentucky's favorite color (Wildcat Blue) and how it could be incorporated into the festive seasonal decor.

Norman Rockwell meets the Kentucky Wildcats...

Sadly, the FIN would probably think this would be festive and COOL...

Very understated, but VERY blue...

Blue at the beach...

Blue Christmas meets country charm...

Yummy blue cupcakes...

Something for every Wildcat...

More my speed...

Even Elvis sang about a Blue Christmas....

I think I am going to order one of these and have it dated for 12/2010,

symbolizing the our first "Engaged" Christmas...

I hope everyone has had a great week! Its almost the weekend! The are calling for snow flurries in Lexington tonight and that makes me blue (missing Summer already)....

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Happy Tuesday, but more importantly Thank Goodness Its Election Day (TGIED). Election results in Lexington have been buzzing for the last few hours and the polls closed hours ago. Despite the massive shakeup that today was to bring to US politics I can honestly say that I am glad that today is almost tomorrow in terms of the election. I hope that tomorrow I can drive without seeing some crazy donkey (literally) dancing holding a sign that says, "Vote for ________" and I am also over the whole slanderous tv and radio ads. I know its the name of the game, but sometimes I wish everyone could play nice and act like adults. I just want to listen to my Britney Spears on the radio without any political interruptions, is that really too much to ask?

I haven't spoken about my "Cube Queen" duties as of late and I am frankly about to relinquish my spot on the throne. Since I transitioned to _________, my daily routine has been less than glamorous. On Monday my inbox was at zero and I decided that I couldn't handle it any longer. I figured I might as well be proactive since this whole wedding thing involves tons of work on the front end and I thought I've got nothing but time. On Monday morning (730ish EST) I made a to-do list for myself for the day and I was able to cross off all of the tasks that I was going to finish after work. I have listed the list below to show just how empty my day was while I was at work.

If only I was able to do laundry, clean my shower, and vacuum out my car while at work, I would have been super-productive. I can honestly say that I finished all of the above mentioned tasks before 1pm EST. I created the excel invitation list all without making any phone calls, and I started the registry list(s) without browsing domestically centered websites. As much as I accomplished I wish that I would have been doing actual work. I can't stand being idle at work for very long and until all of the necessary steps are completed with my new employer my co-workers and myself (2500+ people) are basically idle. I can use some down time every once in a while, but just not daily.

I am trying to catch up on my daily bit of news and all thats newsworthy is the Election 2010. Maybe tomorrow people will calm down a bit. As long as there aren't any more dancing donkeys I think I can manage.

Happy TGIED....

LOVE, MKH

p/s- The FIN and I had our engagement session this weekend in Nashville. The shoot went wonderfully, and I will be sure to post pictures soon! We had an amazing time and Cameron was AMAZING...

MR. & MRS. "G"

About MKH-G

A Kentucky raised Texas transplant who is trying to learn the ways of the world one burned batch of cookies at a time. I hope you enjoy my ramblings on the Daily Days of MKH-G. Let me know you stopped by...I love comments!